Mark 1:40-42. Masks, gloves, social distancing. These are necessary precautions today with COVID-19, but at the same time, Christians cannot let these precautions interfere with our calling to be the body of Christ ministering in the world. We are to be the touch of life to our world the way Jesus himself was. The sermon looks at the story of a leper and some other stories about “touch” in the gospels. Jesus was ready to touch the lives of others, even if it meant he might be misunderstood or become unclean, so that he could be a blessing and change lives. We cannot ostracize groups or stigmatize individuals because of fear of COVID-19. No. We are called to be the hands of Jesus, touching others and giving life.
Author: Jay Givens
Professor of Theological Studies
Director of Online Christian Studies Programs
Wayland Baptist University
Darkness or Light in the Day of the Lord
Isaiah 2:12-22 — COVID-19 affects us all. We are all on edge and our lives disrupted. The Old Testament would call this the Day of the Lord. A day when all of us are brought low. A day when all of us should be brought to repentance and prayer. When the Day of the Lord comes, however, it does nothing more dangerous than to reveal our heart through our actions and the choices we make. Ultimately, we can either respond to the day of the Lord as yet another excuse to blame others or we can see it as an opportunity to serve others. We must chose whether to be darkness or light.
First Fruits of the New Creation
In 1 Corinthians 15:20-27, Paul sees the resurrection of Christ as God’s promise and sign guaranteeing the resurrection at the end of the age. Jesus is the firstfruits of the coming harvest. The new creation began with an empty tomb. Even with the threat of COVID and social distancing, Jesus is Lord and God is putting all enemies–even the coronavirus–under his feet.
Blessed Is He Who Comes in the Name of the Lord
As Jesus entered Jesusalem the Sunday before Passover, the people are said to shout part of Psalm 118, “Blessed is He Who Comes in the Name of the Lord!” While the people understood this to mean Jesus was coming as a conquering king, the psalm as a whole is more focused on the role of faith as trust in God through suffering, which Jesus lived out in that week leading up to his death. The psalm also helps us think through our own response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Heal Our Land
In 2 Chronicles 7:12-22, God tells Solomon that he has placed his name in the temple Solomon built and will hear prayers from there. He promises to heal the land in times of plague, famine, or pestilence if the people will humble themselves, pray, and turn from their wicked ways to seek God. He also warns that he will destroy the temple to rubble if they do not.
The sermon talks about our call to prayer, the model of prayer in our Lord Jesus, and some ways in which we can participate in prayer for nation and our world, including praying through the Psalms.
Fear Not!
We’ve forgotten what pandemics are like since we’ve had a long stretch without one. COVID-19 has resulted in some rational precautions and some irrational stockpiling. What is healthy concern and what is paralyzing fear? In my first ever virtual sermon (after voluntarily suspending group worship services), I start with FDR’s first inaugural address, then look at Jesus’ words about fear, anxiety, and ultimate priorities found in Luke 12:22-34. Jesus tells us not to worry about daily needs. If our Father delights in giving us his eternal kingdom, he certainly will take care of our daily needs. While we should take precautions, we should not, to paraphrase Paul, fear as those who have no hope. But God doesn’t give us the kingdom as a possession; he calls us into his service to bring the kingdom to others. That is why Jesus says our soul is more than food and our body is more than clothes. We need these things, but believers have their life force (soul) to propel them into service for others. We have our bodies as instruments to care and minister to others. In the midst of this crisis, we need to be like the Christians in the plagues of the second and third centuries. Don’t know what they did? Listen to the sermon.
Joy Blossoms in the Desert
I haven’t posted sermons in a while. This is going back to Advent season. The birth of Jesus is like joy blossoming in the desert. In the darkness of our sin and struggles, the light came to bring hope and joy. Isaiah gives voice to this joyful coming as he describes the emergence of a garden in the desert (a return from exile to Eden?). When we find ourselves in the desert, we can discover joy as we trust in God and walk in his ways, knowing he can transform the desert into a garden–though not always in ways we would expect.
“Joy Blossoms in the Desert” Isaiah 35:1-10 (click this link to open)
Nunc Coepi! (Now I Begin!)
Since we are in the middle of NFL playoffs and getting ready for the NCAA national championship (Geaux Tigers!), he’s a sermon reflecting on the Latin phrase that has inspired Phillip Rivers and the Los Angeles (formerly San Diego) Chargers. Nunc Coepi means, “Now, I begin!” a helpful thought when times get tough. One can see how it applies to the final hours of the life of Samson.
“Nunc Coepi! (Now I Begin!)” Judges 13:3-6; 16:20-22 (click this link to open)
Peace on Earth
In Luke’s gospel, the angels proclaim, “Peace on earth!” at Jesus’ birth and the people proclaim, “Peace in the heavens!” at Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem the week prior to his death. Micah describes a vision of peace when the mountain of God is raised up and all nations will stream to it, yet he places it immediately after a prophecy of the temple’s destruction. Jesus, likewise, in John’s gospel predicts the raising of God’s temple (his body) if it is destroyed and says he will draw all people to himself when he is lifted up (on the cross). The sermon looks at the hope of peace and the promise of God through the coming of the Christ.
“Peace on Earth” Micah 4:1-5 (click this link to open)
Watching and Waiting
Advent is from the Latin word that means “coming.” It is a time when Christians through their imagination enter into the time of watching and waiting for the coming of the Messiah, as the ancient Jews also did. Advent is also a time when we recall to mind the watching and waiting we do for the return of Jesus. We anticipate the time when he will return to bring to fulfillment the Lord’s Prayer, bringing God’s kingdom in all its fullness, when God’s will shall be done on earth just as it is in heaven. Come, Lord Jesus!
“Watching and Waiting” Malachi 2:17-3:4; 3:16-4:3 (click this link to open) If for no other reason, find out why I’m blowing a party horn!
Orthopistis 